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VOLUME 25 , ISSUE 10 ( October, 2021 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Direct Medical Cost Analysis of Indian COVID-19 Patients Requiring Critical Care Admission

Kamini N Reddy, Jignesh Shah, Monidipa Chowdhury, Naveen Yerrapalem, Neeraja Pasalkar, Prashant P Jedge

Keywords : Cost, COVID-19, Intensive care unit

Citation Information : Reddy KN, Shah J, Chowdhury M, Yerrapalem N, Pasalkar N, Jedge PP. Direct Medical Cost Analysis of Indian COVID-19 Patients Requiring Critical Care Admission. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021; 25 (10):1120-1125.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23991

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 21-06-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.


Abstract

Introduction: Intensive care unit (ICU) admission is required for approximately 25% of patients affected with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and imposes a high economic burden on patients in resource-limited settings. Method: We conducted a retrospective direct medical care cost analysis of COVID-19 patients requiring ICU admission after obtaining the Institutional Ethics Committee approval. Data were obtained from the records of patients admitted to the COVID-19 ICU of a tertiary care trust teaching hospital from June 2020 to December 2020. Direct costs were analyzed and correlated with various demographic variables and clinical outcomes. Results: A total of 176 patients were included (males—76%). The median direct medical cost for a median stay of 13 days was INR 202248.5 ($ 2742.91). Hospital drugs and disposables accounted for 20% of the total cost followed by bed charges (19%), equipment charges (17%), biosafety protective gear (15.5%), pathological and radiological tests (15%), clinical management (7.6%), and biomedical waste management (1.6%). Government schemes accounted for 79% of medical claims followed by directly paying patients (12.5%) and private insurance (8.5%). The cost was significantly higher in patients with diabetes mellitus and sepsis and in those requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) (p <0.05). Shorter lead time to hospital admission and lesser length of hospital stay were associated with significant lower direct cost. Conclusion: Direct medical care cost is substantial for COVID-19 patients requiring ICU admission. This cost is significantly associated with increased ICU and hospital stay, longer lead time to admission, diabetes mellitus, sepsis, and those who need high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), noninvasive ventilation (NIV), and MV.


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